All Things Must Pass - Harrison, George (CD 2001)

I will never forget the first time I heard All Things Must Pass. My boyfriend and I were living in our car, and we played it on a Discman connected to the radio. It really was the best of times and the worst of times. While I loved the nomadic freedom of being homeless, I was dying inside... tired, malnourished, cold, hungry, dirty. I wanted out.

Sunrise doesn't last all morning...

I just wanted to hear it. I needed to hear it. And George Harrison said it: All things must pass.

There's a few things you need to know about All Things Must Pass. First and foremost, this is widely considered to be the best Beatles solo album. After the Beatles split in 1970, George Harrison, the "quiet" Beatle, had an insane backlogue. After all, with the Beatles only featuring one or two Harrisongs on each of their releases, only a handful of his songs saw the light, and while there were amazing moments (Here Comes The Sun), they weren't exactly masterpieces (Blue Jay Way, anyone?). But his talent was always undeniable, and after his tenure with the Beatles was over (much to his delight), George put together some of his best work from the years to show us (and probably Paul McCartney) what he could do. And, boy, did he show us.

All Things Must Pass is a big album. At the time of release, it was an unprecedented three vinyls, and even the two-disc reissue (with 28 tracks) comes in a big, beautiful box full of information, including all the lyrics to the original tracks. Besides that, the music itself is big and bold, some tracks featuring as many as five acoustic guitars. Phil Spector successfully masters his Wall of Sound technique, something Harrison actually apologizes for inside the package. Crazy Beatle. And it's a sad album too. Being recently separated from his bandmates of ten years, there is a looming sadness over the entire album, and it's not a bad thing.

The most well known song on this album is undoubtedly "My Sweet Lord", which actually became a posthumous number one for George in 2001. It's gorgeous from the first note of acoustic guitar strumming. George's vocals are heartfelt, sincere, much like they are through the whole album. At one point, his voice even breaks in the ascending melody. Starting out low-key and subdued, it inclines into a full out worship hymn, complete with "Hallelujah"s from the choir. The guitar solo is one of those instantly memorable riffs, chiming in at all the right times. Although he was successfully sued for lifting the melody from the Chiffons song "He's So Fine", this is still a beautiful Harrison original.

The first disc is full of highlights. "I'd Have You Anytime" is breathtaking, the guitar riff soaring and the lyrics simple, honest, and effective. Co-written by Bob Dylan, it is a longing, flowing, amazing piece of work. Every time I hear that guitar come in, my heart sinks. Also present is the Dylan-penned "If Not For You", which sounds straight off of his Nashville Skyline album. While it is beautiful, with inspired lyrics and great finger-picked acoustic guitar work, it does lack a bit of Harrison's personality, but that doesn't stop it from being a great song.

"Wah-Wah" is a grower, at first listen being a busy group of random instrumentation (besides the fact that people actually sing "Wah! Wah!"), but after a few listens, this big middle finger to the Beatles starts to become entirely too catchy. The instruments are a bit overwhelming (horn solo, anybody?), but it still works. It's George's vocals that sell it, sounding absolutely fed-up screaming "I don't need your wah-wah!" Remind me not to piss him off. "What Is Life" has the same kind of fate, its accompiment being a bit much at first, but piecing together after some repeated listens. This song has got a perfect sing-along feeling, the chorus infections and repetitive. The guitar breakdown is impressive, and the percussion is very present. My only qualm is that it goes on far too long, but it's still good enough to have been a minor hit for George.

If nothing else, Harrison was an amazing ballad writer, and it shows on this album. "Isn't It a Pity" is to die for, full of gorgeous strings and fantastic backing vocals. One of the things I've always said about George Harrison is he has a way of saying what you never knew you thought before. This song is a perfect example, with its sad views on society and mankind. Another great ballad is "Run of the Mill", an extremely catchy, short track with stunning lyrics and a horn solo that doesn't sound at all cheesy.

In comparison, disc two falls a little flat to its predecessor, but it is still home to some classic, such as "Beware of Darkness." The melody in this song actually gives me chills, with its stark sadness. While amazing, it is outshone by the acoustic version featured as a bonus track here, proving bigger isn't always better. "The Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)" features the best acoustic guitars on the album, and George's vocals are great on this insanely catchy track. "Hear Me Lord" is full of energy, the verses dripping with sorrow and humility, and George's vocals, of course, setting the mood perfectly. "I Dig Love" is an unoffensive, fun little jam song, but nothing particularly charming, and while fun enough, the Beatles fan tribute "Apple Scruffs" is pretty cheesy.

The standout here, of course, is the title track. It may be my personal connection to it, but "All Things Must Pass" is flawless. Yet again, the feelings George conveys vocally are incredible, the instruments melding into a perfectly fitting mix neither over the top or underwhelming. The standout here is the lyrics, painting a portrait of moving on and accepting change (undeniably, the change of not being a Beatle.) It is flawless.

Overall, All Things Must Pass is an incredibly moving, heartfelt, beautifully put together album that more people should hear. While it is a stark portrait into Harrison's post-Beatles struggles, it also has universal themes that even Beatles novices would tune into. I have a deep personal connection with this album, and think that many people could feel the same thing when listening to the amazing lyrics and inspiring melodies on this album. Besides the lawn gnomes on the cover - what more do you need?

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Tracklisting
Disc One:
1. I'd Have You Anytime
2. My Sweet Lord
3. Wah-Wah
4. Isn't It a Pity
5. What Is Life
6. If Not For You
7. Behind That Locked Door
8. Let It Down
9. Run of the Mill
Bonus Tracks:
10. I Live For You
11. Beware of Darkness (Acoustic)
12. Let It Down (Acoustic)
13. What Is Life (Instrumental)
14. My Sweet Lord (2000)

Disc Two:
1. Beware Of Darkness
2. Apple Scruffs
3. The Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
4. Awaiting On You All
5. All Things Must Pass
6. I Dig Love
7. Art of Dying
8. Isn't It a Pity (Version Two)
9. Hear Me Lord
Bonus Tracks:
10. It's Johnny's Birthday
11. Plug Me In
12. I Remember Jeep
13. Thanks For the Pepperoni
14. Out of the Blue

Skip It: Awaiting On You All, Art of Dying

Repeat It: Every other song.

More George: Wonderwall Music, Electronic Sound, The Concert for Bangla Desh, Living in the Material World, Extra Texture, Thirty Three & 1/3, George Harrison, Somewhere in England, Gone Troppo, Cloud Nine, Brainwashed

Great Music To Play While: Becoming that much cooler for actually listening to this album.